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Portals
Our History
Exeter School in the making
Sixth form centre refurbishment
2024
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The sixth form centre gets a completely new redesign to afford pupils innovative study spaces, a staffed cafe area, breakout rooms for group projects and all important games rooms to let off steam when the pressure of their studies gets overwhelming.
Exeter Pre-Prep branding
2023
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September 2023 saw The New School rebranded as Exeter Pre-Prep School.
The New School joins the family
2022
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In April 2022, Exeter School acquired The New School in Exminster extending the age range to include girls and boys in Nursery to Year 2. The New School celebrated it's 30th anniversary at the end of the 2022-23 school year with a party on it's grounds.
20 years of co-education celebrated
2017
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In 2017, the school celebrated 20 years of co-education.
A fully co-educational experience
1997
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In 1995, the governors took the decision to make the school fully co-educational and this took place from September 1997.
Girls in sixth form
1981
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In 1981, girls were admitted in the sixth form.
Assisted places scheme
1979-1997
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From 1979, the school participated in the assisted places scheme, taking over 200 pupils at its peak until this scheme was abolished by in 1997.
Independent school established
September 1976
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The governors first announced a declaration of intent to become a maintained non-selective school but finally decided to revert to fully independent status and the first “independent” pupils were admitted in September 1976.
Direct grant system
1945-1975
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In March 1945, its status changed again to a direct grant school and remained as such until September 1975 when the direct grant system was abolished by the government of the day.
An 'aided' school
1929
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It then became a “maintained” school until 1929 when it became an “aided” school, thus regaining charge of its own finances under a newly appointed governing body.
Handed over to the city
1 April 1921
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The authority agreed to assist but only if the school came under its direct control so, on 1 April 1921, control of the school was handed over to the city.
Assistance needed
January 1920
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The governors of Exeter School wrote to the Exeter Education Authority stating that it was no longer possible for them to continue the school unless considerable assistance was forthcoming.
Reorganisation
1872
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Following the Endowed Schools Act of 1872, the city’s education was reorganised and a new governing body was constituted for the Grammar School. This consisted of representation from the county, the city and Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Schoolroom moves
1868
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The upper floor of the nave of the chapel became the large grammar schoolroom until 1868 when it was concluded that the buildings and site were too confined.
Monetary schemes
1881
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Another scheme laid down how St John’s Hospital Trust's income was to be applied. The trust had to pay Exeter School the net annual income of all endowments for exhibitions and scholarships attached to the school.
Our new home
1880
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By the late nineteenth century the school had outgrown its city-centre location, and in the summer of 1880 the school moved to its present site at Victoria Park Road. Our site had been purchased for £7,600, with buildings erected at a further cost of £16,750.
Headmaster The Rev. John Marshall
1763-93
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Marshall revived the old boys' society in 1787 with an annual meeting or anniversary: a mixture of founder's day and prize day, ending up with a grand dinner at the Old London Inn.
Headmaster John Reynolds
1714
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John Reynolds, fellow of Eton College and Canon of St Peter's Exon 1757, was headmaster of Exeter School from 1714-1734. He was uncle to Sir Joshua Reynolds. His son, William, was headmaster from 1734-44.
Founding donations
1633
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Exeter’s wealthy merchants provided the finance, with sufficient bequests to pay the Headmaster £50 a year and to install the school in the medieval buildings of St John’s Hospital, which had stood on the south side of the High Street since the 12th Century.
Our origins
1 August 1633
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Exeter School traces its origins from the opening of the Exeter Free Grammar School on 1 August 1633. This became the city’s school attended mainly by the sons of those awarded freeman status and was controlled by the Exeter Chamber.
